| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立臺北教育大學 === 音樂教育學系碩士班 === 95 === The symphony and lied are the main compositions in the career of Gustav Mahler’s musical creation. Nevertheless, these two compositions have their own uniqueness and correlation. Taking an example in the topic of my study, ”The songs of a wayfarer” (Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen ), it is absolutely not a simple song cycle; nor a subjective emission of his affection. It is deeply related to his No.1 Symphony.
The first movement of the No.1 Symphony ( Titan ), for example, is based on the theme song “ I went this morning over the countryside “ (Geieng heut’ Morgen über’ Feld ) ,which is the second song of “The songs of a Wayfarer” ; and the third movement is based on ”Alla Marcia”, the rear part of “The two blue eyes” (Die zwei blauen Augen ). Judging from the complicated and intriguing process while the composer was writing this song, the changes of the mood between “The songs of a Wayfarer” and “No.1 Symphony” is worth studying.
He was a co-conductor of the Royal Kassel Opera House, when he wrote this song and then he was in love with the famous soprano Johanna Richter. Before long the love slowly faded away, Mahler tasted the bitterness of garbing. The exhausted and depressed Mahler reflected the feeling to the work .So the song was always satirically called” the creation of Mahler’s style autobiography.” From the objective analysis, The song plays an important part in the career of his creation.
In term of the characteristic of his songs, the key in the beginning and the key in the end are different in each song. It is much different from others’ in his age. For example, the first song “When my sweetheart has her wedding “ begins with d minor
IV
and ends with g minor, while the second song “ I went this morning over the countryside” begins with d major and ends with F# major. Moreover, judging from the cadence, each song does not end with a key note. From this, he gives the piano a spacious perspective and imagination.
He wrote the lyrics for his own songs. This reflected the mood when he wrote his songs at that time. They are: the first song “When my sweetheart has her wedding “ (Wenn mein Schatz macht ) ,the second song “ I went out this morning over the countryside “, the third “I have a growing knife “ , and the fourth “The two blue eyes “. With an analysis of these four songs he might be very depressed at that time, especially the last one “The two blue eyes” with the theme song “Alla Marcia”. It is clear that he was so desperate that he wanted to end his life.
From these aforementioned indications, Mahller’s “The song of a Wayfarer “was
much similar to Schubert’s “Winterreise” in mood. The main actors were all deserted
by their lovers. In the end, they all fell in agony. Though there is difference in composing songs, the perspective of love and emission of the emotion are the same. A researcher must collect more data and evidence in every aspect, not only study the superficial side.
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